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Autonomous flight control system for an airship
Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch
2010
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| _version_ | 1867614135584292864 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan |
| author2 | Steyn, W. H. |
| author_browse | Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan Steyn, W. H. |
| author_facet | Steyn, W. H. Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan |
| author_sort | Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | University of Stellenbosch |
| description | Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4090 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:47:13.687Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publishDateRange | 2010 |
| publishDateSort | 2010 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/4090 Autonomous flight control system for an airship Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan Steyn, W. H. University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. Fuzzy logic Airship Autonomous control Fuzzy control Dissertations -- Electronic engineering Theses -- Electronic engineering Airships -- Control Thesis (MScEng (Electrical and Electronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In recent years, the use of airships has become popular for observation purposes since they provide a cost effective alternative to other aircraft. For this project a lateral and longitudinal flight control system are required for waypoint navigation flight of an 8m long, non-rigid airship. The airship’s actuators include a rudder, elevator and a propulsion system which can be vectored longitudinally. Two airship models are evaluated for this project. A chosen model is linearised and a modal analysis is done. The modal analysis is compared to a previous modal study done on the YEZ-2A airship and is found to compare well. Each airship mode is discussed and the linear behaviour is compared to the behaviour of the non-linear model. A fuzzy logic controller design approach was undertaken for the design of speed, heading and height controllers. These non-linear controllers were designed for the non-linear model, due to the following reasons: Fuzzy logic controllers show tolerance to model inaccuracies. Complexity of design is simple. Controllers can be adjusted intuitively. Fuzzy logic controllers can be combined with conventional control techniques. Simulation results showed adequate lateral and longitudinal performance, even when subjected to light wind conditions and disturbances. The inertial measuring unit implemented in a previous project is used and additional hardware is designed and implemented for the control of the airship’s actuators. Several improvements are made to the groundstation software to allow for activation of different controllers as well as for setting up the desired flight plan. The controller performance is tested through flight tests and shows adequate performance as well as controller potential. Although further work is still required for improving the controllers’ performance, this thesis acts as a platform for future research. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In die afgelope paar jaar het die gebruik van die lugskepe gewild geword vir waarnemings doeleindes aangesien dit ’n koste effektiewe alternatief vir ander lugvaartuie bied. In hierdie projek word ’n laterale en longitudinale beheerstelsel benodig vir merker navigasie vlugte met ’n 8m lang, nierigiede lugskip. Die lugskip se aktueerders sluit in ’n rigtingroer, hoogteroer asook ’n aandrywing stelsel wat oorlangs gestuur kan word. Vir hierdie projek is twee lugskip modelle geïmplementeer. Die gekose model is gelineariseer en ’n modale analise is gedoen. Die modale analise is met ’n vorige modale studie vir die YEZ-2A lugskip vergelyk en wys soortegelyke linieêre gedrag. Die lugskip modusse is bespreek en die linieêre gedrag word met die gedrag van die nie-linieêre model vergelyk. Daar is op ’n fuzzy logiese beheerder ontwerp besluit vir die ontwerp van spoed, rigting en hoogte beheerders. Hierdie nie-linieêre beheerders is ontwerp vir die nie-linieêre model a.g.v. die volgende redes: Fuzzy logiese beheerders toon toleransie vir modellering of meetfoute. Kompleksiteit van die ontwerp is eenvoudig. Beheerders kan intuïtief aangepas word. Fuzzy logiese beheerders kan met konvensionele beheertegnieke gekombineer word. Simulasie resultate toon voldoende werkverrigtinge, selfs in die teenwoordigheid van ligte wind sowel as ander versteurings. Die inersiële metings eenheid, wat geïmplementeer is in ’n vorige projek, is gebruik en addisionele hardeware vir die beheer van die lugskip is aktueerders is ontwerp en geïmplementeer. Talle verbeterings is aangebring aan die grondstasie sagteware vir die aktiveer van die beheerders sowel as die uitleg van die gekose vlugplan. Die beheerders se werksverrigtinge is getoets gedurende vlugtoetse en toon voldoende beheer vermoë sowel as beheerder potensiaal. Alhoewel verdere werk steeds nodig is vir die verbetering van die beheerders, dien hierdie tesis as ’n platform vir toekomstige navorsing. 2010-02-15T11:27:33Z 2010-08-13T14:58:51Z 2010-02-15T11:27:33Z 2010-08-13T14:58:51Z 2010-03 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4090 en University of Stellenbosch 113 p. : ill. application/pdf Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| spellingShingle | Fuzzy logic Airship Autonomous control Fuzzy control Dissertations -- Electronic engineering Theses -- Electronic engineering Airships -- Control Avenant, Gerrit Christiaan Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title | Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title_full | Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title_fullStr | Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title_full_unstemmed | Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title_short | Autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| title_sort | autonomous flight control system for an airship |
| topic | Fuzzy logic Airship Autonomous control Fuzzy control Dissertations -- Electronic engineering Theses -- Electronic engineering Airships -- Control |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4090 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT avenantgerritchristiaan autonomousflightcontrolsystemforanairship |